Mower mounting



Dec. 25, 1951 A. ABGARIAN 2,580,267

MowER MOUNTING Filed April 29, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l ARAM ABGARIAN ATTORNEYS Dec. 25, 1951 A, ABGARIAN 2,580,267 MOWER MOUNTING INVENTOR. ARAMABGARIAN ATTO RN EYS A. ABGARIAN MOWEIR MOUNTING Dec. 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 29, 1946 INVETOR. ARAM ABGARIAN ATTORNEYS Dec 25, 1951 A. ABGARIAN 2,580,267

MOWER MOUNTING Filed April 29, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 vllllllllllllI/IIIIJ -nvVENToR.

ARAM ABGARTA'N ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED s'mrss ATENT OFFICE MOWER MOUNTIN Aram Abgarian, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Detroit Harvester Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 29, 1946, Serial No. 665,767

6 Claims. (Cl. 56--25) This invention relates generally to mowing machines and refers more particularly to improvements in mowing equipment of the type adapted to be attached to conventional tractors.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a mowing machine composed of a relatively few simple parts capable of being quickly assembled with, and removed from, the tractor as a unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide quicklydetachable connections between various parts of the mowing machine and tractor which are not'only capable of being readily manipulated by unskilled operators or attendants, but in addition, serve to effectively hold the mowing machine against accidental displacement from the tractor during operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mowing machine having a drive shaft and having a readily detachable coupling for securing the drive shaft to the power take-oli shaft forming a standard part of the tractor.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of mowing machine embodying thefeatures of this invention and showing the same as attached to the power operated lift arms of a conventional tractor;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the mowing machine shown'in Figure l;

`Figure 3 is a plan view of the mowing machine shown lnfFigure 1; v

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the mower drive shaft assembly;

VFigure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken sub'- stantially on the plane indicated by the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing the connection between the pedestal 28 and link 29;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the removable pins employed in attaching the mowing machine to the tractor;

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 4;

- Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional rview taken on Y thelne 9-9 0f Figure 2;

Figure l0 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line I0-I0 of'Figure 2; and

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional will be noted that the, reference character I(lin-` dicates a tractor and the numeral IIl designates a mowing machine attachable to the tractor in accordance with the present invention. The tractor is of conventional design having a power takeofi shaftv I2 and having a pair of supporting arms I3 extending rearwardly from the tractor at opposite sides of the power take-off shaft I2. The arms I3 respectively are pivotally connected at their forward ends lto the usual pivot pins (not shown) that are provided on the rear axle housing Ill of the tractor adjacent opposite sides of the differential housing Illa of the tractor to enable swinging movement of the arms in substantially Vertical planes. In accordance with conventional practice, the supporting arms I3 are operated by4 a pair of links I6 having their lower ends respectively pivotally connected by lpins I6 to the supporting arms I3 intermediate the ends ofthe latter and having their upper enus pivotally connected by couplings I'I to power operated levers Il. The levers II are rigidly connected to a shaft 90a which in turn is connected to hydraulic mechanism (not shown) provided on the tractor. Y YLevers Il and arms I3 are parts of the tractor with which the mower is associated. -Power operated levers of this type are `shown in Figure 1 of Ferguson Patent.- 2,118,180. 1 The mowing K machine II comprises a draw bar I8, a cutter bar assembly I9 and driving mechanism 2D. The draw bar I8 extends transversely of the tractor between the rear ends of the supporting arms I3, and the opposite ends of the draw bar are respectively pivotally connected to the supporting arms I3. The pivotal connections between opposite ends of the draw bar I8 and the rear ends of the arms I3 are identical in construction. Consequently, a detailed description of the connection between one end of the draw bar and adjacent supporting arm I3 will suicevfor both ends. As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, a cylindrical portion in the formof a pintle 2| extends from the end of the draw bar I8 inthe direction of length of the latter, and passes through an opening in the rear endof the adjacent supporting bar I3. An opening 22 is formed in the cylindrical portion 2| adjacent the outer end thereof, and a pin 23 is engaged in the opening to hold the bar I3 in assembled relation with the draw bar I8. The pin 23 has a v head portion 24 at one end, and' a spring 25 in the form of Aa loop is pivoted on the head portion.

The arrangement is such that after the pin is en.- gagedl with the cylindrical por'ticfinZIl of the draw`v bar, vfthesprir'ig' 25.may be Swiing'tof a position wherein it receives thecylindrical portion 2| andprevents'accdental 'disengagement lof the pin 23 from the cylindrical portion 2I. As shown particularly in Figure 7 of the drawings, the free ends of the spring 25 pivotally engage the head 24 on the pin at laterally spaced points P and P', so that the spring 25 is placed under sufficient tension to hold the same in place. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the pin 23 also serves to connect the rear end of a stabilizer link 25 to the draw bar I8. The forward end of the stabilizer link is pivoted to the axle housing in any suitable manner not shown herein. Y As previously stated, the supporting arm I3 a the opposite side of the tractor is connected 'to the draw bar in a similar manner and correspond-v ing parts of this connection are indicated by .theV

same reference characters. Thus it will be noted that the draw bar I8 may be readily detached from the rear ends of the supporting arms I3 by merely removing the pins 23 and disengaging the arms from the cylindrical portions 2| at opposite ends of the draw bar. The stabilizinglink 26 is removed from thedraw bar at the saine time the adjacent supporting arm I3 is disengaged from the drawbar. When the pins 23 are disengaged, they are prevented from being lost by chains 23', vwhich permanently connect the heads 24 of the pins to the supporting arms I3.

The cutter bar assembly I9 and the driving mechanism 20 are supported on the draw -bar I8, soA as to be removable therewith as a unit. Referring rst to the driving mechanism 29, it will be noted that this mechanism comprisesa frame or housing 21 suspended fromk the draw bar i8 by a pedestal 28. The pedestal 28 is formedradjacent the lower end with a portion 28 which is rectangular in cross section and receives the draw bar I8. The portion 20' is clamped in place on the draw bar I8 by fastener elements 2I,'shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The pedestal also has a part whichA extends belowy the draw bar I8 and `this part is formedrwith spaced bushings 22 which forma supportr for the opposite ends of a. pivot pin 23.A Supported on the pivot pin 23 between thebushings 22' is a Vbushing 24 which is xedto the top of the .housing 21 for the driving mechanism 28. Thus the ,housing 21 is pivotally supported on the draw bar I8 by thepedestal 28.l In addition the pedestal has a portion extending upwardly from the draw bar and connected tothe tractor housing I4 by a link 29. In detail, the upper end of the pedestal 28 has a bifurcated portion 38 for receiving the rear end of a link 29 therebetween. The furcations 3I of the` bifurcated portion 30 are formed withaligned openings therethrough for receiving a head pin 32. The pin 32 also extends freely through an opening in the rear end of the link 29, and serves to pivotally connect the link 29 to thepedestal 28. The opposite end ofthe pin 32 is apertured to receive a pin 33 that is similar to the pin 23 previously described and is permanentlyattached to the link 29 by means of a chain34. `The forward end of the link 29 is pivotally connected to a bracket 35 on the rear axle housing i4 by a pin 35. As shown in FigurelO, the bracket 35 has a bifurcated portion straddling the forward end of the link 29, and the pinV 35 extends throughA aligned openings in the furcations 35 of'the bracket and inthe link 29. A retaining pin 31 is adapted toengage an opening in the `free'end'of the pin 38, and this retainingpin 31-is identical; tov the pingf23.v The pin `36 is permanently attached to the axle hous-A ing by ia `:chairrih and the retainingjpin '31? is also permanentlyV attached;` to `the housing :byfa

chan39,V SQzthat thepns will notfbecome lostl 4 when disengaged. The link 29 forms a support for a rack 49 having a series of teeth 49 spaced from each other in the direction of the link for selectively engaging the upper end of a chain 4I having its lower end secured to the draw bar I8 intermediate the ends of the latter. The arrangement is such as to permit varying the elevation of the draw bar and associated cutter bar assembly I9 relative to the ground. i

It follows from the foregoing that the link 29 may be readily disconnected from either or both the tractor I0 or the pedestal 28. In most cases 'where it is desirable to detach the mowing machine from the tractor, it is preferred to disconnect the rear end of the link 29 from the pedestal, so -as' VVto leave the link on the tractor. It will, of couse, be understood that after the rear end of the Vlink is disconnected from thevupper end of the pedestal 28, the chain 4| is merely disengaged from the rack and is slipped over the rear end of thelink 29` In otherwords, the chain 4I is removed with the draw bar..

The housing of the driving mechanism rotatably supports a stub'shaft 42, and the front end of said stub shaft has a head 44 connected by a universal vjoint 45 to the rear end of a drive shaft 43. The front end of the drive shaft 43 is splined withinv a Ysleeve 45 which is detachably connected by means of a universal joint 1 to a longitudinally split sleeve 88 splined upon the power take-oil shaft I2. A bolt S9 is provided for clamping the sleeve 48 in operative engagement with the power take-01T shaft I2 in the manner clearly shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. It follows from the foregoing that the drivingy mechanism 29 of the mowing machine may be readily disengaged from the `power take-off shaft I 2 by loosening bolt 49 and disconnecting the sleeve 48 from the drive shaft I2. l y

A pulley 58V is secured to the stub shaft 42 and is connected to a second pulley 5I by a belt 52.

The second pulley 5I is secured to a driven shaft 53 and carriesan eccentric pin 54 having its axis laterally offsetffrom the shaft 53. The eccentric pin 54 is connected to the cutter bar assembly I9 for operating the latter. Y

The ,cutter barassembly i9 comprises a cutter bar 55 and a knife 55 supported on the bar for reciprocation lengthwise of the bar.V In operation the cutter bar assembly I9 proj ects laterally outwardly from one side of thevtractor at the rear end thereof, and the inner end of the knife 56 is connected to Athe-outer end of a pitman rod 51 Yhaving the inner end connected to the eccentric pin 54 by a pin 54. Theinner end of the cutter bar 55 is supported on a shoe 53, and the shoe is connected tothe outer end of a drag bar 55 Ywhich Vhas its inner-end supported on the housing 21 by a vertical pin 59.

The connection between the drag bar and shoe comprises a hinge bracket 58 journalled on the outer end of the drag bar for rocking movement about the axis of the drag bar` The hinge bracket 68 is also provided with aligned pins GI having their common axis extending perpendicular to the axis jof rocking movement of the hinge bracket and engageablein aligned bearings 52 fcrmedon the shoe53rto enable vertical swinging movement of the cutter bar assembly from a position substantially parallelto theground to an upright or inoperativeposition.

xAsl stated abovethe `innerend of the pitman rod 51fis:conne cted tothe eccentric 54 by the pin 54', and the inner Yend "of the drag bar is connected tothe housing-21 by the vertical pinA 5,9',

As a result the cutter bar assembly may be swung rearwardly in the event it contacts obstructions during operation of the mower. The cutter bar assembly is normally restrained from rearward swinging movement by a pull bar 63 having its rear end rotatably supported on the drag bar 59 adjacent the hinge bracket 60 by a coupling 60 and having its forward end portion slidably mounted in a sleeve 88. rlhe sleeve 64 has an upstanding web portion 8i which is removably mounted on a laterally projecting pivot pin I' of a bracket I5 that in turn is secured to the rear axle housing I8 of the tractor, and is provided with a lateral extension 85 for supporting suitable latch mechanism 85. A removable pin 84 eX- tends through the pivot pin I5' adjacent the free end thereof to prevent accidental displacement of said web portion 8 I therefrom.

The latch mechanism S8 comprises a plunger 61 supported in the extension for sliding movement perpendicular to the pull bar 63 and having a cam portion 68 engageable in a correspondingly shaped notch 89 formed in the pull bar. The location of the notch 89 in the pull bar is predetermined, so that when the latch plunger is in engagement therewith, the cutter bar assembly is held in its operative position. Disengagement of the latch plunger from the pull bar is resisted by a spring 18 having one end abutting the plunger, and having the opposite end engaging an adjustable capat the outer end of the extension. The force exerted on the latch plunger 81 by the spring is predetermined to hold the cutter bar assembly in its operative position during normal mowing operations, and to permit rea-rward swinging movement of the cutter bar assembly in the event the latter contacts rocks, stumps or othery ground obstructions. The extent of rearward swinging movement of the cutter bar assembly is determined by engagement of a stop 12 on the front end of the. pull bar with the sleeve 64.

A second sleeve 13 is secured to the pull bar 6-3 at the `rear side of the sleeve 64, and is formed with ears 1d to which the front end of a link 15 is pivoted. The rear end of the link 15 is connected to a tilt lever` 19 intermediatethe ends of the latter, and the lower end of the tilt lever is rigidly secured to the hinge bracket 68 by fastener elements 11. As shown, particularly in Figure l of the drawings, a bifurcated bracket 18 is secured to the inner side of the tilt lever 16, and is formed with aligned openings through the furcations thereof for receiving a pin 19. The pin 19 also selectively engages in longitudinally spaced openings 88 formed in the rear end of the link 15 to hold the tilt lever 'I8 and, accordingly, the cutter bar assembly I9 indifferent tilted positions.

The sleeve 13 also forms anchorage means for counterbalancing means 8| provided to assist in swinging the cutter bar assembly I9 to its upright position about the axis of the pins 6I. The counterbalancing means 8l comprises a lever 82y having the lower end pivotally connected to the shoe by a pin 83 and having the inner edge abutting a shoulder 88 formed on the shoe above the axis of the pivot pins 6I. Thus, inward movement of the upper end of the lever 82 tends to rock the shoe and cutter bar assembly in an upward direction. The upper end of the lever 82 is connected by link 86 and bell crank lever 88a,

to the lower end ofa chain85, and the chain extends upwardly over a pulley or guide 81. -The guide .81 is. congested te one .arg1 `of ,a bell. .crank on the chain 85. This forward pull is transmitted.

through the link 86 to the upper end of the lever 82, and tends to rock the cutter bar assembly upwardly about the hinge pins 6 I. It is important to.

note at this time that the chain also provides a connection between the draw bar I8 and the cutter bar assembly and cooperates with the chain89 to assist in raising the cutter bar assembly upon elevating` the draw bar. L The specific construction of the counterbalanclng means 8land the tilting mechanism for the cutter bar assembly forms no part of the present invention. However, it is important to note that both of the above units are anchored to the pull bar 63 by means of the sleeve 13. Thus, it is not necessary to detach or interfere with either 0f the above units when the mowing machine is removed from the tractor. Actually the only part of the counterbalancing mechanism thatneed be detached from the tractor is the chain 89, and this may be accomplished by merely disengaging the hook 90 from the arm 89'. v

Zit will be noted from the foregoing that'the mowing machine may be detached from the tractor I0 by rst loosening the clamping bolt 49 to disengage the sleeve 88 of the universal coupling l1 from the power take-off shaft I 2; second, removing the chain 4I from the rack 88 land allowing the mower assembly to drop to theA ground; third, removing the pins 23 and slipping the supporting arms i3, together with the stabilizing link 2B, from the ends of the draw bar I8 fourth, removing the pins 32 and 83 to disconnect the rear end of the link 29 from the upper end of the pedestal 28; fifth, removing the pin 84 and detaching the sleeve 84 from the adjacent bracket 84'; and sixth, disengaging the hook 99 at the rear end of the chain 89 from the arm 89'. By

following the above procedure, the mowing' machine may be readily removed from the tractor without the necessity of dismantling -any of the parts of the mowing equipment. It is pointed out that the sequence of steps three, four, live-and six is of no particular importance and may be varied as desired.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a tractor having a frame, a pair of laterally spaced power operated lift arms adjacent the rear of said frame, a power take-olf shaft extending rearwardly from said frame, and a mower comprising a draw bar, a support housing secured to said draw bar intermediate its ends, a drag bar pivoted at one end to said support housing for vertical and rearward swinging from a normal transverse operating position, a cutter bar pivoted to the other end of said drag bar for vertical swinging and angular adjustment about its longitudinal axis relative to said drag bar, a knife reciproeable on said cutter bar, drive means in said support housing, transmission means connecting said drive means and knife, a pedestal ex-v mower to `andirom the tractor arranged to provide Aa complete mowerassembly removable as a unit vfrom the tractor, said structure comprising a drive shaft connected tothe drive means in said support housing Yand a yreleasable coupling at the endof said drive shaft `for engagement with the power take-off shaft of the tractor, releasable coupling means tor connecting the -ends of the lift arms to the -ends of said ldraw bar, releasable coupling means for connecting said sleeve to the underside of the tractor frame, and a releasable link for connecting said pedestal to the frame of the tractor'.

2. Ina tractor having a frame, Aa pair of laterally spaced power operated `lift arms Iadjacent the rear rofisaid frame, la power take-off shaft extending rearwardly from said frame, `and a mower comprising a draw bar, a ysupport housing secured. to said draw bar intermediate its ends, a drag bar pivoted at one end to said support housing for vertical and rearward swinging from a normal transverse operating position, a -cutter 'bar pivoted to the other end or" said drag bar `for vertical swinging vand angular adjustment about its Vlongitudinal axis relative to said drag bar, counterbalance mechanism including a bell crank lever pivoted to said draw bar, a knife reciprocable on said cutter bar, drive means in said support housing,k transmission means connecting said drive means and knife, a pedestal extending upwardly from said support housing, and a pull bar connected at its rear end to said .drag bar and having a `sleeve slidable thereon, said sleeve including a releasable latch engageable with said pull bar: quick detach-able structure providing for attachment and removal of the mower to and from the tractor arranged to provide a complete mower assembly removable as a unit from the tractor, said. structure comprising a drive shaft connected to the drive means in said support houzing and a releasable coupling at the end of said drive shaft for engagement with the power take-on" shaft o the tractor, releasable coupling means for connecting the ends of the lift arms to the ends of said draw bar, releasable coupling means forcennecting said sleeve to the underside of the tractor frame, a nexible element connected to said bell crank lever and including a detachahle connection for engagement with a part of said tractor, and a releasable flink for connecting said pedestal to the frame of the tractor.

3. In .a mower comprising a frame, a pair of laterally spaced power lift arms on said frame, `a power take-oit shaft extending rearwardly from said frame, a mower comprising a draw bar, a support housing on said draw bar, cutting mechanism pivotally connected to said support housing, a pull b ar connected to said cutting mechanism including a sleeve sliclable on said pull bar and having releasable latch mechanism normally preventing relative sliding between said pull bar and sleeve: quick detachable .mounting and coupling Structure for connecting said mower to said tractor, said structure comprising releasable mounting means for coupling the ends of said draw bar to the ends of said lift arms, a drive shaft for operating the cutting mechanism extending forward- 1y from .said support housing and having releasable means at its forward end for engagement with said power take-off shaft, and releasable meansfor connecting said sleeve to the underside of said frame.

4. lIn a mower comprising a frame, a pair ofV laterally spaced power lift arms on said frame, a

power take-oifshait extending rearwardly from said frame, la mower comprising va draw bar, a support housing on said draw bar, a pedestal extending upwardly trom said ysupport housing, cutting mechanism pivotally connected to -said support housing, a ypull bar connected to .said cutting mechanism including'a :sleeve slidable on said .pull bar and having 'releasable latch mechanism normally preventing relative sliding between said pull bar :and sleeve: quick detachable mounting and coupling structure for connecting said mower to lsaid tractor, said structure comprising releasable mounting means for coupling the ends of said draw bar to the ends of said lift arms, a link extending forwardly from the upper vend of said pedestal and having releasable means `at its forward Vend for connection to the frame of `the tractor, va drive shaft for `operating the cutting mechanism extending forwardly from said-support housing and having releasable means at lits forward `end for engagement with said power `take-ofi` shaft, and releasable means for-connecting said .sleeve to the underside of said frame.

5. lu a mower comprising ya frame, a pair of laterally spaced power lift arms on said frame, a power take-off shaft `extending rearwardly fromsaid frame, a 4mower comprising a draw bar, a support housing on said draw bar, a pedestal extending upwardly from said support housing, cutting mechanism pivotally connected to said support housing, counterbalance mechanism comprising a lever member on said draw bar, a pull bar connected to said cutting mechanism including a sleeve slidable -on said pull bar and having releasable latch mechanism normally preventing relative sliding between said pull bar and sleeve: quick detachable mounting and coupling structure for connecting said mower to said tractor, said structure comprising releasable mounting means for coupling the ends yof said draw 'bar to the ends of said lift arms, a link extending forwardly from the upper end of said `pedestal and having releasable means at its forward end for connection to the frame of the tractor, a drive shaft for operating the cutting mechanism extending forwardly from said support housing and having releasable means at its forward end for engagement with said power take-off shaft, a iexible member extending forwardly from said Ylever member and having releasable means at its forward end for connection to the frame of the tractor, and releasable means for connecting said sleeve to the underside of said frame.

6. In a tractor having a frame, a pair of power operated lift Varms on said frame adjacent the rear end thereof, a power take-off shaft extending rearwardly from said frame, and a mower assembly comprising a draw bar, a pedestal extending upwardly from said draw bar, a drag bar 'pivoted at -onefend to said draw bar for'vertical and rearward swinging from a normal transverse operating position-a pull bar secured at its rear end to said drag bar, a sleeve slidable on said pull bar, a releasable latch between said sleeve and pull bar, cutting mechanism including a cutter bar pivoted to the other end of said drag bar, a knife reciprocable on said cutter bar and drive means for reciprocating said knife: quick detachable means for connecting the ends of said-draw bar to the-ends of said lift arms. a releasable coupling for connecting said drive means :to said power take-offshait, a link extending forwardly from'said pedestaland having a releasable coupling for yattachmem: to 'said fname, and releasable means for connecting said sleeve to the underside of said frame.

ARAM ABGARIAN.

REFERENCES CITED Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Paul June 27, 1933 Number 1 0 Name Date Paul Feb. 13, 1934 Mott Sept. 12, 1939 Crumb et a1 Oct. 24, 1939 Hilblom Mar. 16, 1943 Schroeppel Oct. 12, 1943 Hansen Nov. 30, 1943 Simpson et a1. Aug. 1, 1944 Spurln Apr. 4, 1950 

